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"Mastermind" Volume 5 Chapter 2: Don't forget the time with the Saint
🕑 Added 2023-06-11 16:02:32 +0000 UTCOn the terrace of a café along the main street of the imperial capital...
"Sorry, I'm late."
Ren apologized to the boy sitting at a table surrounded by a hedge, slightly out of breath. The boy was his close friend, Radius.
"Don't worry about it. You're right on time, three minutes early actually. Besides, I've been enjoying myself here alone, so there's no need to apologize."
Radius reassured him.
Ren thought it was a considerate response. However, after he took a seat across from Radius...
"It's not a bad idea to sit here and watch the main street on a day off."
"Oh, really? Why is that?"
"It means I can enjoy the atmosphere. Lately, I've been more aware of the citizens and such."
"Hasn't it always been like that?"
"Since before, but lately, there have been various... things happening, especially."
Their conversation began with the usual aimless chatter. They were enjoying a typical day off, passing the time as boys of their age would. Occasionally, they sipped tea while gazing at the main street visible through gaps in the hedge.
"Ah... Fuu.”
Ren sighed as he noticed a slight vulnerability in the dignified face of the Third Prince, which piqued his interest.
"That's unusual. You looks like you’re about to fall asleep outside."
"I woke up early this morning. I had some errands to run, so I went to the Temple of the War God."
Radius explained.
"Radius, you went to that temple?"
Ren hadn't visited it himself yet, but as someone aspiring to become the Sword King, he knew what kind of place it was.
"It was just some errands."
"Oh... I see."
Since it didn't seem like Radius would elaborate any further, Ren withdrew the topic.
Ren's face softened as he savored a bite of cake, savoring its sweetness.
"Oh, and I saw the stone tablet as well. I hope to see your name engraved on it someday,"
Radius added.
"Keho! Keho!"
"Why are you so surprised? Don't get overwhelmed."
Ren choked on his cake, taken aback, and coughed several times before looking at Radius with a surprised expression.
"Why are you saying that out of the blue?"
"Well, didn't you decide to become the Sword King?"
Ren had already discussed his determination, so Radius raised an eyebrow as he spoke.
"Well... I did, but it surprised me because you said it so suddenly."
"I see. But it seems like you haven't been discouraged."
"Yeah... that's right."
Ren's eyes showed a firm determination.
Radius wasn't doubting that determination either; he was just teasing. The resolve was unshakable, and now Ren could put it into words.
"Count me in, without a doubt."
"Yeah. I'm looking forward to it."
Their time at the café came to an end, and the two stood up.
Radius was wearing a simple disguise that wouldn't attract attention in the crowded main street. As for the guards, they had taken measures. If Radius said so, Ren could walk beside him without worry.
Leaving the café, they strolled aimlessly along the main street.
"Radius."
"Yes, what is it?"
"I'd like you to introduce me to the person we discussed before. I want to meet them before the end of this year."
"You mean about the Sacred Magic and the goddess descendant?"
"Yeah. The person in Euphemia."
After the incident at Roses Caitas, Ren had been discussing it with Radius. The abnormality that occurred in Licia's body during the battle against the Sword Demon... If put into words, it could be described as angelic transformation. Ren couldn't forget the radiant wings that appeared on her back and the sacred powers she unconsciously unleashed.
"So, what kind of person is the one you're introducing?"
"They're someone who used to be my teacher. The one I mentioned before, the person who helped me start the Arne Velde Trading Company."
Ren was delighted from the bottom of his heart, thinking that the person seemed reliable.
Shortly after the sun had set, Ren bid farewell to Radius. It seemed that Radius had other matters to attend to, as Holy Lion’s Sanctuary esteemed official, Estelle, personally came to pick him up. Ren didn't need to accompany him to the castle.
...Since autumn arrived, the days had become considerably shorter.
Looking up at the sky from time to time, Ren walked through the imperial capital. He headed toward the familiar Imperial Military Academy.
"Ren!"
Licia's voice came from in front of the school gate.
She still had the same shimmering hair, as if silver and amethyst were mixed together, and her loveliness continued to captivate the opposite sex.
Her smile towards Ren was different from others, and her eyes sparkled.
Beside her stood Lady Sarah Riohard, the daughter of a noble of the heroic faction and a member of the Riohard family.
"Sorry for the wait."
"No worries. We just finished ourselves."
Licia and Sarah had been attending supplementary lessons at the academy today. It wasn't because of poor academic performance but simply because they felt it was necessary.
Since Ren didn't feel the need for it himself, he had met with Radius instead.
"You two are still getting along well, as usual."
Even she, who occupied the position of the main heroine in the legend of the Seven Heroes, had a striking appearance.
What would happen to her relationship with Vane, the protagonist of the Legend of the Seven Heroes?
"What's with you, Sarah? Why the sudden interest?"
"Just something I was thinking. So, Ren, why didn't you take the supplementary lessons? It's unusual for you when Licia is taking them."
"Oh, I had a promise with Radius."
So there was no other reason.
Even if Ren had scored a perfect score on the previous exam, there was no need to mention it now.
On their way back with Licia, they took a slight detour through the imperial capital.
In a back alley away from the main street—not particularly unsafe but sometimes a place where hidden treasures could be found—a conversation took place.
"Where did you go with the Third Prince?"
"We just had some tea and wandered around the capital."
"I see... I suppose Estelle-sama was there when you left."
"As expected of Licia, you understand... Ah!"
Ren muttered with his dark brown hair shaking.
With a gentle face reminiscent of his mother's, he wore an expression as if he had seen something rare.
"What's wrong?"
The Saint leaned over to peek at Ren's face from the side. When she followed his gaze, she became curious as well.
In front of their line of sight was a person carrying an enormous bag. The person was about the same height as Ren and Licia were at the age of ten, and their small stature didn't match the size of the bag they were carrying.
The bag was huge, probably about two meters wide.
The person set the bag down on the side of the road and sat on top of it, resting their chin on their knees.
Their face couldn't be discerned due to the dirty robe and mask they were wearing.
"That's impressive. Maybe they're a dwarf?"
"I don't know. There's absolutely no information about the Bag Traveler."
"The Bag Traveler?"
"That's what they're called. It's been quite a rumor that there's a small person carrying an enormous bag around."
"Wow... I had no idea... They certainly stand out with that appearance."
Even in the legend of the Seven Heroes and in the world that had become Ren's reality, the Bag Traveler was a rumored existence among students and in the streets.
"Licia, have you heard anything about it?"
"Now that you mention it, I feel like someone mentioned it before..."
The Bag Traveler appears in various places in Leomel for a limited time. Currently, it was the time for them to appear in the imperial capital.
Judging from the voice, it was probably a man. He was a mysterious figure who would sell special items if you paid a large sum of money. It was an amount that Ren couldn't afford with the money he had.
Several adventurers stood before the person.
"It seems like they're interested in the Bag Traveler's shop."
That's how he referred to himself.
The adventurers spoke to the Bag Traveler.
"You've brought quite a large bag with you."
"It looks like you're selling something. Show us."
"Sure thing. My bag is filled with wisdom, hope, and romance. If you boys want something, you can obtain it in exchange for compensation."
"How about it?" the Bag Traveler asked.
The adventurers' expressions changed.
"Wisdom and hope?"
"And romance... Is this guy selling some dangerous potion or something?"
"It's rude to approach someone and then call them dangerous."
At some point, the adventurers seemed to lose interest in the merchandise and turned away with subtle expressions.
The Bag Traveler paid no mind to it and waved his hand as if saying, "Well, whatever."
"Ren, shall we go as well?"
Regaining their composure, the two of them walked through the marketplace, enjoying the atmosphere.
It was already an hour after they had enjoyed their time in the capital when the two of them set off on their way back home.
Licia, wearing her uniform, walked with the hem of her coat swaying. The lingering reluctance for this time to come to an end could be seen flickering in her lovely face.
